The Huntress

by Michelle O'Leary

  At his voice, she sagged and leaned weakly against the wall. His optimism evaporated.

  "Stone," she sighed in relief, and Regan stepped uncertainly toward her voice in the dark.

  "Mama?"

  Stone watched the textured shadows of Mea's face crumple into tears, her anguish more felt than seen like needles in his skin. He had no idea how she kept her voice so steady.

  "I'm here, baby."

  A couple of steps and the girl was in her arms, sobbing like a lost child found. Stone pulled out the laser cutter, breathing shallowly around the knot in his chest and trying not to feel like an intruder.

  "I'm cutting your chains," he murmured and knelt at their feet, willing his hands to steadiness as he burned through the chains on her ankles. He didn't bother with the manacles—they were of a thicker metal than the chains, and it would take too long to cut through them. Besides, he didn't know if he could do it without hurting her.

  When he stood to do the chains on Mea's arms, Regan moved slightly away, tears quieting down to sniffles. "Mom, you're naked."

  Stone cursed under his breath while Mea gave a tired chuckle. He should have grabbed something for her to wear. She needed warmth about as much as she needed healing, rest, food—her flesh was chilled under his fingers. When the last chain clattered to the floor, he pulled off his jerkin and gently settled it over her shoulders.

  "Slide your arms in."

  She slowly did this, and he fastened the front quickly. It was sleeveless, but should provide some warmth since it covered her almost to mid-thigh.

  "I'll carry you."

  "No, you won't. You'll wear out. I'm heavier than I look."

  "We don't have time for you to gimp outta here. Shut up and put your arm around my neck."

  She complied without further comment, and he lifted her carefully into his arms, trying not to jar her leg. She gasped and shuddered anyway, curling into him. She seemed lighter than he remembered, and her skin felt like ice against his, almost as cold as the metal of her manacle.

  "Sorry," he murmured in her ear. "You okay?"

  "Just go," she rasped, and he winced.

  "Grab my belt, kid. We're leaving."

  "What's wrong with Mom?" she whispered as she fumbled her way toward him and hooked her little fingers in his belt. "Why do you have to carry her?"

  Stone started moving at a fast clip toward the corridor. At first Regan stumbled, but then she caught her stride and shifted her hand to a better position on his belt.

  "She's banged up." He hesitated. "Has a bum leg." The details were likely to freak the kid out and they didn't have time to calm her.

  "But what's—"

  "Hush!" Mea said sternly. "We need to move quick and quiet if we're to get out of here."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  The kid's voice was meek as could be and Stone took a quick glance down at her. He didn't think she was crying, but she kept looking up into the darkness in the direction of Mea's voice, face a pale ghostly smear in the darkness.

  They were moving down the corridor at a good pace when a flashing light and echoing voices broke the dark silence behind them. Needing no further encouragement, Stone began to run, but slow. He didn't want to lose Regan, and even at this pace he was jostling Mea unmercifully. She took it like a hunter, though.

  "Go!" she hissed in his ear. "Left!"

  He'd forgotten that she'd also memorized the schematics. He went left. It was a smaller hallway, but they needed to stick to the back ways through the fortress and not take the main corridors or they'd be caught for sure.

  Their dash through the fortress was a nightmare. No sooner did they make some progress than they'd have to double back and take a different way because of a group of people or a guard unit. Twice he had to let Mea down to rest his burning arms and shoulders, but not for long. He'd watch her hop along the wall on one leg, holding the other out at an awkward angle, and he'd have to pick her back up again. Not only could he not stand the snail's pace, but watching her hurt him more than he was willing to admit.

  Finally they got close to an exit, only to find that it was guarded. The hallway that they were in T-ed into another corridor, at one end of which was the way out to the port. The flashing lights and subdued voices told Stone that the way was definitely not clear. He slowly lowered Mea until she could stand, then slid cautiously along the wall toward the intersection. Mea was right behind him, and the kid trailed them both.

  One quick look around the corner and he turned to Mea, holding up two fingers. This close to the guard's lights, she was able to see him. She nodded, held up one finger, and then pointed to herself. I'll take one.

  He frowned and shook his head, pointing to her leg. Then he held up two fingers again and pointed to himself. You're too slow. I'll take both.

  She rolled her eyes and mimed pulling out a gun and shooting him with it before shaking her head. Bracing on his shoulder, she pulled herself up close enough to whisper urgently in his ear, "I can distract them and get close. They won't shoot me right away like they would you!"

  Which was true. If they didn't recognize her, they wouldn't shoot a wounded and helpless looking woman, but even if they did recognize her, they wouldn't want to kill Maulkin's prize. That didn't mean he had to like it.

  He glowered at her, but she ignored him handily, turning to Regan and whispering in her ear for a minute. The kid nodded a couple of times, biting her lip anxiously. Then Mea slipped past Stone and stepped out into the other corridor, leaning heavily on the wall as she went.

  She caught their attention immediately. Stone saw the lights swing around and focus steadily in their direction.

  "Hold it!"

  "Oh, thank god. Please help me."

  Mea's voice was tremulous and weak and almost enough to make Stone dive around the corner to catch her. He gritted his teeth and hoped like hell she was acting.

  "Hey, I think that's the hunter."

  "No shit, we caught her? I can't believe it!"

  "Please. I need help."

  Mea sounded further away from Stone, which meant she was closer to them. He slipped his goggles on in preparation to face the guards' bright lights.

  "Man, she don't look too good."

  "Don't get so close. She's dangerous."

  "Shit, right now she couldn't hurt a—"

  A muffled thump cut off his words, and one of the lights swung crazily. That was Stone's cue to spin around the corner, low and fast. Mea had the struggling man in a headlock while the other guard fumbled with his gun, shouting incoherently. With a running dive, Stone took the man's legs out from under him. He heard the gun clatter away from them, but didn't see where it went, too busy subduing the guard. He got a kick in his side for the trouble, but after several blows to the body and two good ones to the head, the man slumped bonelessly away from him.

  Rolling quickly to his feet, he spun to see Mea down on the ground next to an unmoving guard. The man's head was at a twisted angle, and Stone could see that she'd snapped his neck. It was Mea that caught his attention, though. She was propped on one elbow with the other hand braced against the body and panting heavily, head down. Blood was seeping from around the manacles on her arms and her skin was so pale against the black jerkin that it looked almost translucent. She looked like death warmed over.

  "Mea—" Stone started as he stepped towards her, but she snapped at him without lifting her head.

  "The door! Open the goddamned door."

  Resolutely Stone turned away, clenching his jaw. She didn't need him to waste time fussing over her when there was nothing he could do about her condition. To help her, he needed to get her the hell out of there, but it was still painful to turn his back. As he pried at the door, he heard the kid come barreling around the corner.

  "Mom!"

  "I'll be fine. Go help Stone get the door open."

  Once again he was amazed by the steady strength in her voice when she spoke to Regan. She was at the end of her strength, but for the k
id she still found reserves somewhere to reassure her. The girl appeared at his elbow, face as gray as her robe and eyes big enough to swallow him whole. He could get the door open by himself, but the activity would hopefully keep her mind off Mea and the dead guy. He pulled the cutter out of his pocket.

  "Here, try to wedge this in the door when I crack it."

  She took it and held the tool against the door seam, hands shaking so badly that the cutter jittered against the metal in a series of tuneless clinks. Stone pried at the door again, knowing he couldn't take the time to fuss over the kid either. If they could just get the hell out of this hole…

  He managed to get the door open a crack, and Regan shoved the cutter in to hold it open until he could get a better grip. Muscles bunching, he began forcing the door on its track, and a cool night breeze wafted in through the opening, dancing over his overheated skin. When Regan saw that he didn't need the wedge anymore, she dropped the cutter and hurried over to Mea while he finished shoving the protesting metal into the wall.

  "Come on, Mom. We've gotta go."

  The kid began helping Mea to her feet, and Stone was just turning toward them when Maulkin stepped around the corner out of the dark, grinning like a demon and pointing his gun at them.

  "Go? So soon?"

  He wasn't alone. About five guards were arrayed behind him, and all of them had weapons trained on the escapees. Maulkin clicked on the handheld light attached to his arm and held up a small device.

  "Your metal's still betraying you, Hunter. Though it was a bit harder to track you with this little thing—not as accurate. Still, it let me sneak up on you. Not an easy feat to do to a hunter, so I understand."

  While he spoke, Stone saw Mea slowly straighten away from the wall and push Regan down onto the ground next to the dead guard. Then with agonizing little hops, she moved away from the girl. Drawing their fire.

  Stone feverishly wracked his brain for a way out of this mess, but wasn't having any luck. He could dive backwards through the open door and probably make it, but he'd be leaving the other two behind. That wasn't an option.

  The bastard was still talking, and Stone could see he was getting his rocks off on the situation.

  "Very clever, taking out the power. But don't worry—I don't mean to take it out on you or the girl. You're still useful to me. Him on the other hand—"

  The gun swung toward him, Maulkin's face murderous. As Stone tried to lunge to one side, he saw with horror that history was about to repeat itself. As though she'd been miraculously healed, Mea twisted quick as a cat and launched herself at him, getting into Maulkin's line of fire and taking the blast that'd been meant for him. Just like Kate.

  She crashed into him and, already twisted off balance, Stone went down hard with Mea on top. She didn't move. Ears ringing with panic and dread, Stone shifted her enough so he could put trembling fingers against her throat, nearly crying out to feel a thready pulse. She was alive, but for how long?

  He suddenly realized that his ears were ringing with more than emotion. The sound of a high, sustained scream and pulse fire were deafening in the small space, and Stone jerked his head up to see chaos. Regan was lying across the dead guard, firing rapidly into the group of guards and screaming at the top of her lungs. In her inexperienced hands, the blasts should have gone wild, but her arms were braced against the dead man and the space was confining. Stone saw guards fall and the side of Maulkin's head disappear in a mist of blood and bone.

  Leaping to his feet and hoisting Mea over one shoulder, he lunged at the kid and lifted her unceremoniously under one arm like a carrysack before staggering out into the night. Horrified cries and stray shots followed him into the dark, but he didn't go very far before putting Regan on her feet.

  "Give me the gun."

  His voice was harsh, but he couldn't help that now. She slapped it into his palm, and he shifted Mea so that she was across both shoulders before he set out at a dead run toward the port. The kid sprinted next to him, somehow keeping pace with his longer strides.

  He wasn't running because he was afraid of being followed. He'd seen Maulkin die—it would take them time to get organized. What made him run as if his heels were on fire was the feel of Mea's life trickling then flowing down his bare back. Her blood made warm tracks on his skin, and the fear that she would die pushed him to faster and faster speeds. He needed to get to the Starfire. The Starfire and Ema.

  "Come on, kid! Not much further," he gasped when Regan started falling behind him. She made a sound that was a cross between a moan and a sob, but stayed close as they sprinted around a building and onto the landing pads. They sped by Kef's transport, and Stone didn't even spare it a glance. Mea would die if she didn't get on an EMU's table right now—if she wasn't dead already.

  The Starfire came into view, and they dove for it like it was the silver light at the end of the tunnel. Stone didn't hesitate for a second at the sight of two guards standing at the bottom of the ramp. As soon as he was within range he started blasting, killing one instantly. The other managed to get a shot off that went harmlessly past them before he was also cut down by Stone's wild fire. Charging up the ramp with Regan not far behind, he ducked through the hatch.

  "Seal and lock that!" he snapped over his shoulder, but didn't slow down. Intent on reaching the infirmary, he nearly fell over a body lying in the corridor. It was Warren. Stone cursed, but didn't pause, stumbling past the fallen android. A soft cry sounded behind him as Regan caught sight of the crumpled form of her friend.

  "We can fix him later!"

  She apparently agreed with him since she was right on his heels as he barged into the infirmary.

  "What—Stone! Is that my Mea?"

  Not bothering to speak to the AI, Stone slide Mea off his shoulders and laid her gently on the table, then stepped back.

  "Oh my baby girl!" Ema moaned softly, but immediately went to work.

  Mea levitated off the table as mechanical arms whirled around her. For the first time, Stone actually looked at the damage done by Maulkin's blast. He could see now why she was still alive. The shot had taken her in her side, not a direct hit in the back like Kate's had been. The pulse fire had cauterized much of it, but larger arteries had broken the cautery and bled. His back was drenched with it. He watched tensely as the AI stopped the bleeding and placed tubes in her veins, healing light dancing dizzily all over her.

  Regan pressed up against his side, and he put an arm around her, feeling a suffocating pressure on his chest. What would they do if she was gone? Tension gripped the back of his neck like a vice.

  "Dad?"

  "Yeah."

  "Are you going to be okay?"

  That was not the question he'd been expecting. He looked down at her, confused. Her face was drawn and skeletal as she tipped empty eyes up to him.

  "Your side, Dad."

  He stared, uncomprehending. She actually had to put her hand out and touch his other side with trembling fingers before he noticed that he'd been hit by Maulkin's blast after all. He had a mirror image wound of Mea's, but not as severe—some of the blood he'd been feeling had been his own.

  With a grunt of surprise, he stared at it. There was no pain. Pulling away from the kid, he stepped over to the wall and pulled a coag pack from storage. With careless attention, he slapped it in place over the wound and walked back to Regan. Putting his arm back around her, he returned to watching Ema fight for Mea's life.

  "She's stabilizing, but slowly. Her vitals are still erratic, but better than they were. She had seconds left, Stone. Thank you very much for bringing her to me."

  "Will she live?" he asked hoarsely, bracing himself.

  "Too soon to tell." the AI muttered in a clipped tone. After a short pause, she sighed and continued in a tense, worried voice, "Even if I can get her stabilized right now, I'm not sure I can keep her stabilized. She needs extensive medical attention, the kind you get at a fully equipped hospital or med lab. Besides the wound in her side, her body has been
severely traumatized for many days. I don't know how she didn't succumb to shock and hypothermia before she was shot. We need to get her to a hospital, Stone. Now."

  "Can you wake her up?"

  "Didn't you hear me? She's not in any condition to—"

  "You said she needs a hospital. I don't think the slavers will let us use any of theirs, so we have to get the hell off this rock. I can't start this ship up without her codes, and she's the only one who knows 'em."

  There was a heavy pause.

  "You realize what can happen if I give her too much stimulus."

  "You got another idea, I'm all ears."

  Another pause.

  "All right, one chance. She'll be conscious for a minute, but if you don't get the codes then, there's nothing more I can do without killing her. Got it?"

  "Got it," he growled, hands fisted at his sides.

  Moving stiffly to the table, he bent close, watching Mea's bloodless features. When her eyelids fluttered and she moaned softly, he brushed his knuckles against her pale cheek. "Mea. Wake up, honey."

  She opened her eyes, blinking slowly, gaze unfocused. "Bay?" she slurred.

  "I need your codes. Can't start the ship."

  "Codes," she sighed, eyelids sliding closed again.

  He brushed hair off her forehead with shaky fingers. "Come on, Hunter. I need you with me, now. Regan needs you."

  "Re-gan?"

  "She's here. She's okay, but we're still on slaver ground."

  Struggling to keep her eyes open, she told him the codes in a slurred, sluggish voice.

  He repeated them back to her to confirm since she wasn't too clear. "That right?"

  "Yes," she sighed and let her eyes close. A second later, it was clear by the slackening of her features that she was unconscious again.

  Stone turned away from the table to see tears pouring down Regan's face. She was staring emptily at her mother, and he realized that she'd heard how bad things were for Mea. But he had nothing to say that wouldn't be a lie, so he pulled her gently toward the table. "You stay here with her."

  She didn't respond. Not having a clue what else to say, Stone shook his head and strode out of the infirmary. If she was cracking up, the only way he could help her—help either of them—was to get them the hell out of here. Worrying about them both, he nearly stumbled over Warren again.